This model is of No 47326 which was built in July 1926 and was finally withdrawn in December 1966. Initially allocated to Motherwell it moved to Workington and latterly it was based at Carlisle Upperby where its duties included work as the station pilot The model carries a shed plate for 12A Carlisle Upperby.

The basis for this model is LBSC's 3.5” gauge Molly which was described in Model Engineer from July 1941 to August 1942. Since the articles appeared during WW2 there are some interesting comments such as for the boiler "if you can't get copper tube, but brass might be obtainable, you can use that"!

Naturally, Norman used Copper.

Mechanically the model was built to LBSC's design which had only minor errors in the drawings. The locomotive has Stephenson’s valve gear with slide valves which are located below the 1 1/8" diameter cylinders. The coal bunker was made as a third water tank to increase the capacity of such a small engine. This is the reason for the air vent in the coal space.

Detail drawings were made from photographs and using the excellent drawings in the Wild Swan Publications book, LMS Locomotive Profiles No 14 The Standard Class 3 Freight Tank Engines (published in association with the NRM).   

To obtain a scale appearance the traditional hand pump was changed to a vertical stirrup type pump which operates through the right hand tank filler. The whole pump can be unscrewed from the bottom of the tank.

Other features which improve the appearance of the model are the tapered cab hand rails and the opening cab doors and front windows. The rear cab windows were glazed with watch glass which is available in a vast range of diameters. The front windows were glazed with O.5mm glass initially shaped on a fine green grit wheel and then with a diamond file.

Initially the model was painted with a Halfords etching primer and their spray can (acrylic). Unfortunately hot steam, water and oil did not like this paint resulting in heavily marked paintwork on the upper surfaces. The boiler and firebox cleading were repainted using enamel paints. Norman hopes that in use the repainted parts will take on more of an oily sheen.

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Editor - David Carpenter